Southwater Lake & Shore
|
Distinctiveness
The landscape of the village has not changed much since the late 19th Century the overriding feature being that of open fields broken by shaws, ghylls and hedgerows many with oak and lime. The major woodland being Pond Farm Ghyll, runs through the village north to south and is carved by a stream through the harder Horsham rock fragmented on either side by new housing estates.
Trees are very predominant throughout the village both in the new developments and the parts of the village, which date back to the 18th Century and border many of the public open spaces. Much of the soil is Wealdon clay, which is heavy and sodden in the winter and bone dry during a hot summer. Wildlife is still abundant with deer, foxes, rabbits, various bird species such as sky larks, bullfinches not to mention butterflies such as the Purple Emperor.One of the most noticeable and talk features today are the road traffic calming measures with speed humps and chicanes both on the main Worthing Road and at various other points, this road being one of the longest in West Sussex. Other features of the village, which should be noted are the Victorian style lamps installed in the new housing developments in order to blend in the new with the older parts of the village.
|
|